**Brazil says it will not comply with a demand from interim authorities in Honduras to define the status of ousted leader Manuel Zelaya within 10 days.**Mr Zelaya took refuge in the Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa after sneaking back into the country on Monday.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said the embassy was protected by international law.
“Brazil will not comply with an ultimatum from a government of coup mongers,” he said.
Mr Zelaya was driven out of Honduras at the end of June, after he announced plans to hold a non-binding public consultation to ask people whether they supported moves to change the constitution.
His opponents said the move was unconstitutional and was aimed at removing the current one-term limit on serving as president, so paving the way for Mr Zelaya’s possible re-election. He has denied this.